In Friday's Indian Super League match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Kerala Blasters FC defeated wooden spooners NorthEast United FC 2-1 to move into second place in the points table.
As NorthEast United's woes deepened, Kerala got back on track with a second half goal from Jorge Pereyra D*az (62nd minute) and another from Alvaro Vazquez (82nd minute).
Despite doing everything he could to avoid his marker from a Joe Zoherliana cross, Suhair Vadakkepeedika missed a golden opportunity to take the lead early on.
In the end, Mohammad Irshad's late goal couldn't help Khalid Jamil's side, which now have 10 points from 16 games, while Kerala have 23 points from 13 matches.
Suhair Vadakkepeedika had the first opportunity of the game for NorthEast United, who missed an opportunity to take the lead early after dodging his marker from a Joe Zoherliana cross.
Pragyan Gogoi smashed the ball over the bar after Marcelinho delivered some teasing crosses for Suhair.
Jeakson Singh headed over the bar after Adrian Luna delivered a perfect ball three minutes into the second half.
Kerala had a great chance to strike first in the second half after Alvaro Vazquez spotted the keeper out of his line and took aim but missed.
Diaz was left unmarked and the Argentine made no mistake when Harmanjot Khabra headed the ball in his path, nodding in past Subhashish Roy Choudhary. Kerala suffered a setback when Ayush Adhikari was sent off after seeing a second yellow card in the 70th minute.
NorthEast United replaced Marco Sahanek with Deshorn Brown, who made a comeback into the team, but Kerala went 2-0 up to add to the Highlanders' plight. Vazquez scored a sensational goal, getting the ball close to the half-line and spotting Roy Choudhury off his line, to send a curling effort that nestled into the net.
Irshad pulled one back in stoppage time from a Santana ball, shooting with power from just outside the box but his brilliant effort went in vain as NorthEast United succumbed to their second straight defeat.